Snowmobile front suspension

Details Snowmobile front suspension Snowmobile front suspension

1999-10-13

2001-12-11

Boehler, Anne Marie (Department: 3618)

Motor vehicles

Including one or more ski-like or runner members

C180S186000, C180S190000, C280S016000, C280S021100

Reexamination Certificate

active

06328124

ABSTRACT:

TECHNICAL FIELD
The invention relates to snowmobile front suspension systems, and, in particular, to improvements in independent front suspension systems of the type employing a rear trailing arm and a pair of transversely mounted radius rods.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A variety of front suspension systems have been employed on snowmobiles over the years. In the early 1980's the assignee of the present invention introduced to the snowmobiling industry an independent front suspension system utilizing a trailing arm—i.e., an elongated arm having its front end connected to the steering spindle, and the rear end pivotably connected to the chassis (see, e.g., Canadian Pat. No. 1,227,823, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference). The trailing arm is oriented generally parallel to the snowmobile's longitudinal centerline, its front end being secured to the chassis by a pair of generally transversely mounted radius rods.
While the trailing arm/radius rod suspension system has been widely accepted in the snowmobile industry as a very good snowmobile front suspension design, applicants have found that further improvements in the system can be made, providing even better performance advantages for the rider.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention provides a front snowmobile suspension of the type having a ski spindle extending upwardly from a ski, the ski spindle being pivotably carried by the front end of a trailing arm. The rear end of the trailing arm is pivotably secured to the chassis and the front end of the trailing arm is pivotably connected to a pair of generally transverse radius rods which in turn are pivotably secured to the chassis. Each radius rod has an inner end pivotably attached to the chassis and an outer end pivotably attached to the front end of the trailing arm. The radius rods permit upward and downward movement of the front end of the trailing arm. The outer ends of the radius rods are positioned forwardly of the inner ends of the radius rods a sufficient distance that the radius rods, viewed from the top, form an angle of at least about 15° with respect to a transverse plane that is perpendicular to the chassis centerline. This unique positioning of the radius rods arm has been found to reduce lateral scrub of the skis as they move upwardly and downwardly through their respective ranges of motion.


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